Marc Cucurella’s second-half strike proved decisive as Chelsea edged Leicester City 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, climbing to fourth in the Premier League table. The Blues controlled much of the contest but were frustrated by Mads Hermansen’s heroics, including a penalty save to deny Cole Palmer.
Palmer’s miss in the first half extended his goal drought to nine matches, a stark contrast to his electric early-season form. Chelsea’s dominance was nearly undone when Tosin Adarabioyo headed onto his own crossbar, but Leicester’s resilience faded after the break. Cucurella seized his moment, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner to hand Enzo Maresca’s side their second win over the Foxes this season.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Palmer, whose spot-kick was brilliantly pushed away by Hermansen his first penalty miss in the Premier League after converting his previous 12. Despite his struggles, Palmer remained a focal point in Chelsea’s attack, registering more shots than anyone on the pitch. One effort was even inadvertently blocked by a teammate, summing up his luck in front of goal.
Leicester’s fight was evident in their defensive display, with Conor Coady and Wout Faes throwing themselves into challenges. Wilfred Ndidi put in a commanding shift in midfield, while Hermansen was outstanding, keeping Chelsea at bay until Cucurella’s clinical finish.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side has now lost five consecutive league games without scoring, leaving them six points adrift of safety. Their lack of firepower is a growing concern, and next weekend’s clash with Manchester United could prove pivotal in their survival battle.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have strung together back-to-back league wins for the first time since December. But with Arsenal up next, they’ll be hoping Palmer rediscovers his scoring touch sooner rather than later.
